Mr. Soren was arrested on January 31. However, the Court chose the position that it first needs to hear the other side, the Enforcement Directorate in this case. It is indeed a legal requirement that any order of bail can be given only after hearing the prosecution’s objections. With the prosecution depending mainly on approvers’ statements against Mr. Kejriwal, and the agency banking on documentary evidence against Mr. Soren, there may be differences in the respective merits of their cases. Election-time incarceration, which renders the playing field disadvantageous to the affected parties, adversely affects the democratic spirit.

Source: The Hindu May 16, 2024 17:19 UTC